Listen more intently Tell people that you love that you love themWatch a child discover something newDon't look for someone else to blame when
you are unhappy

Be free with complimentsEncourage someone that is having a difficult
day Read for ten minutes a day Call old friends and catch up on their lives

Do something totally silly and out of character
every so oftenBe less critical of othersBe generous not only with money but with timeVolunteer for a good cause

Be responsible for all your actions Don't fall for peer pressureBuy a really special outfit even if you don't
know where you will wear itPray more and Worry less

Have a cookout in the middle of winterBe quick to forgive others and learn to forgive
yourself Whatever you do, give it your best shotMake room for new friends

Live your life this year in a way you can look
back on fondly and without regretsBury prejudicesAccept yourself for who you are and don't
try to be someone somebody else wants you to be.Don't gossipTreat yourself to something either very expensive
or very fattening occasionally

Learn a new danceConsider failures as learning opportunitiesChallenge your body and your brainAccept help

Look at the big picture and don't sweat the
small stuffEnjoy what you like about someone instead
of trying to change what you don'tWatch the sunset and realize that just as
no two sunsets are alike so are you a unique and beautiful creation!

FIVE GREAT LESSONS

First Important Lesson

During one time in
life, I was given a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed
through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name
of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke.
I had seen her cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired
and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in
my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one
student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely,"
said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are
significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is
smile and say 'hello'." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned
her name was Dorothy.

Second Important Lesson

In the rain one night,
at 11:30 PM, an older black woman was standing on the side of an Alabama
highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down
and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down
the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard
of in the conflict-filled 60's. The man took her to safety, helped her
get assistance and put her into a taxi cab. She seemed to be in a big hurry,
but wrote down his address and thanked him.

Seven days went by and a
knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV
was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read: "Thank
you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched
not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because
of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before
he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."
Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

Third Important Lesson

Always remember those
who serve you. In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10
year old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress
put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?"
he asked. "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his
hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much
is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting
for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "Thirty-five cents,"
she brusquely replied." The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have
the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put
the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream,
paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry
as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,
were two nickels and five pennies You see, he couldn't have the sundae,
because he wanted enough left to leave her a tip.

Fourth Important Lesson

In ancient times,
a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched
to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest
merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly
blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything
about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant
came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder,the
peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of
the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After
the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying
in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins
and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who
removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of
us never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve
our condition.

Fifth Important Lesson

Giving When it Counts
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know
a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease.
Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her
5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and
had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained
the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would
be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only
a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it
will save her.."

As the transfusion
progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did,
seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his
smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice,
"How long until I die?" Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the
doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood
in order to save her. You see understanding and attitude, after all, is
everything.